A rare, ancient Japanese bronze Buddha statue worth $1.5 million (about Rs 12.5 crore) was stolen from an art gallery in Los Angeles last week. New York Post reported. According to Los Angeles Police, the 250-pound bronze statue was stolen from the Barakat Gallery in Beverly Grove around 3:45 a.m. on September 18.
It is striking that the daring robbery was also captured on camera surveillance. The surveillance footage shows the suspect breaking into the entrance through a driveway and using a dolly to move the statue onto a truck. The entire robbery lasted about 25 minutes. Authorities were shocked that a lone thief managed to steal the statue despite its weight.
The rare artifact is a seated Buddha with a halo about four feet tall, made during Japan’s Edo period (1603-1867). It was believed to have been commissioned for the centerpiece of a temple.
”This monumental bronze statue probably once dominated the interior of a temple. Judging from the inscription, it is likely that this work was once placed in the Yudo-no-San Temple. We can imagine weary pilgrims struggling to climb the mountain, only to reach the top and have their energy reinvigorated by this monumental sculpture. In the Vajra mudra, the index finger of the left hand is clasped by the five fingers of the right hand; This is also known as the ‘six elements mudra’, or the ‘fist of wisdom’ mudra, for it symbolizes the unity of the five worldly elements (earth, water, fire, air and metal) with spiritual consciousness,” the description reads of the statue on the gallery’s website.
”I really appreciate it. I had it in the backyard of my house and when I moved to this gallery, I put it in the backyard of the gallery for everyone to admire and enjoy,” said Fayez Barakat, the gallery owner. KTL.
Mr Barakat added that he believes the theft was premeditated as the sculpture is prominently displayed in the gallery’s outdoor area.
”I don’t think there is another one like this on the market anywhere else. It is 4 feet tall, it is hollow cast bronze and it is a beautiful piece. It’s really aesthetically pleasing and it’s shocking to see something like this go to waste,” Paul Henderson, director of the gallery, told the newspaper. New York Post, adding that it will be difficult for the thief to sell the piece.
The police are investigating the matter and are searching the area for additional camera images.
The Barakat Gallery, which also has locations in London, Seoul and Hong Kong, opened its Los Angeles location in 2017.